The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir was organized by it’s Founder and Pastor, Dr. Charles G. Hayes on October 25, 1960.  The Choir was organized with only five (5) persons.  It consisted of all family members, sisters and brothers.  As the years passed, the Choir grew and grew, from the original five members, to it’s present membership of over one hundred (100).

The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir has recorded thirty albums and five single 45’s over the past 40 years.  Out of the thirty albums, one went “GOLD” (over 50,000 copies sold), and the others made the No. 1 spot on the charts around the world.

The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir, known as ‘The Mighty “WARRIORS”’, is dedicated to it’s Church and the people who enjoy their singing.  GOD is the head of their lives and they enjoy singing and giving HIM the praise.

The Choir has performed with such great artists as the late Mahalia Jackson, the “World’s Greatest Gospel Singer”, the late Clara Ward and Singers, the late Ruth Davis and Singers, Evangelist Shirley Caesar and Singers, Rev. James Cleveland and Singers, and a host of others, many who are now dead.  The Choir was sung in Auditoriums, theatres, fair grounds, ball parks, civic center, store-front churches, Jewish temples, from the smallest to the largest, with all races involved at the same time.

The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir has performed for the Chicago Gospel Festival, and by popular demand, was invited back to the Petrillo Bank Shell on several occasions.  In June 1992, Dr. Hayes and the Choir were saluted by the Mayor and City of Chicago for Outstanding Service in the Religious Community.  In July 1992, and again by special request in 1995, the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir represented the City of Chicago in the Umbria Jazz Festival held in various provinces throughout Italy, performing with such greats as B.B. King, Linda Hopkins, etc.  The choir also performed in Austria, France, and at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland, where they performed with the world famous Mighty Clouds of Joy.  Most recently the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir performed throughout the country of Spain.

After more than forty years, the Choir is still recording, and is considered as one of the world’s greatest Traditional Gospel Singing Choirs.  As a contribution to Chicago-land, the Choir’s home base, the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir presents their Pre-Memorial Day Midnight Musical each year, and for more than thirty years, this event, starting at 12-Midnight, has attracted over three thousand (3,000) persons with a ticket fee, standing room only, in most cases, if not a turn away crown.  God has truly blessed this Choir.  The Pre-Memorial Day Midnight Musical has been such a success, that many others have copied it, and now present their own.  The credit and vision goes to it’s Founder and Pastor, Dr. Charles G. Hayes.

The Music of "The Warriors"     |       The "Warriors" Photo Album